Compare towns
Athol vs Reading vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Athol | Reading | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
699Lowest |
8,801 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Reading and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,120±$173 21% below U.S. |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 9% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.2%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #256 of 282 in MA | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.